Electric switch



Oct. 27, 1936. l. BosTlAN ELECTRC SWITCH Filed Feb. 14, 1955 NN mm w.. m5 m V0 m W5 T M A #f Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE ELECTRIC SWITCH Irvin Bostian, Philadelphia, Pa. Application February 14, 1935, serial No. 6,584

4 oinims.- (o1. 20o- 159) This invention relates to electric switches, and has for an object to provide a switch especially, though not exclusively, adapted for use in automotive vehicles forming a convenient means for manually disconnecting the battery or other source of electrical energy from all mechanical parts of the structure.

A vfurther object of the invention is to provide an electric switch of such construction that when placed conveniently to the drivers seat of an automotive vehicle, it may be both closed and opened by the use of the drivers foot.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch including a pair of spaced contacts, with a member insertable between the contacts and to close the circuit, said member having means for engagement with one of the contacts to lock said member in Such closing position.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device as just mentioned, Said locking means to embody structure whereby the tilting of the member by the use of the foot disconnects the lock from engagement with the contact member.

A further object of the invention is to. provide a switch having a. spring tending to normally hold the switch in open position and closable, as for instance, by application of the foot thereto against the tension of the spring, the closing employing a movable member which is thereby introduced between spring contacts, the movable member having means engaging one of the contacts, and locking the switch in such closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure as just outlined, the locking member being formed adjacent one edge of the movable member, and engaging adjacent one edge of the contact member, whereby a tilting of the member moves the locking part out of engagement with the contact member, and permits the Spring to function to open the switch.

'I'he invention, therefore, comprises spaced contact members of spring material converging, but

spaced apart, with a Wedge-shaped bridging member adapted to be forced between said spring contacts to separate the contacts to a greater distance, said wedge member having at one edge thereof a lug, also wedge-shaped, adapted to engage under one edge of one of the spring contact members, together with a spring tending to move the wedge member out of contact position, but resisted by the lug engaging the contact member, the position of said' lug relative to the Wedge member and the contact member being such that a tilting of the wedge member in one direction will disconnect the lug from its locking engagement with the contact member, and the switch to be opened by the spring moving 'the wedge member out of bridging position, a lock,

vided for locking the switch in open position, resisting closing.

The drawing illustrates an embodiment of the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

Figure l is a sectional view through the switch 5 box showing the'contacts and wedge member in elevation,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 1,

yFigure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on l0 line 3 3 of Figure 2,v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail perspective of the ylower end of the wedge member and lock,

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a fragment of the lower end of the wedge member taken at a diiTerent angle than Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the preferred position of the Switch relative to the seat of an automobile, shown in side elevation and indicating two positions of the foot in closing and 20 opening the switch, and Figure 7 is a conventional top plan View showing the position of the switch.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 25

It is well known that many fires have occurred owing to defective wiring or other cause, when an automotive vehicle stands idle, with the cur rent from the battery interrupted only by the` usual switch mechanisms located a considerable 30 distance from the battery.

The present invention is directed to a switch which may be located upon or closely adjacent to the battery for breaking the circuit at that point, and thereby avoid such dangers as men- 35 tioned. The switch may also serve as a safety device against theft when provided with a lock. The switch may assume a variety of forms, modifications being required because of differences of installation requirements. Such changes, how- 40 ever, are minor, and wholly within the scope of the invention.

The invention comprises the box or housing I0 which is attached to an automotive vehicle in any approved position, and by any means consistent 45 with the position of installation. Brackets Il are shown in the drawing for attachment, and may be employed to attach the switch permanently under the floor boards, indicated at I2.

While the exact location is, of course, dependent 50 upon the build and condition of the vehicle, it is intended that it shall be located immediately in front of the drivers seat I3 in position to be engaged by the foot of the driver, the two operative positions of the foot being indicated at I4 and 55 l5 in Figure 6.

Within the housing l0, spring contacts I6 and I1 are mounted, spaced apart in converging relation, as shown more particularly at Figure l. 'Ihese spring contacts may be attached within 60,

the housing in any approved manner, but preferably by providing with threaded shanks Il and I6, which are insulated' from the housing, as shown at 20 and 2|. With this type oi connection, lock nuts 22 and 23 will be employed to clamp the contacts in proper position, and when the Shanks Il and I9 are provided with other nuts 24 and 25, they will serve for the connection therewith of cables. While these connecting members will be employed in some positions and under some conditions, they may be varied, and other types oi' contacts or connecting members known in the art may be substituted therefor, wholly within the scope o! the present invention.

Mounted to slide through the top oi the housing I! is a member 26, wedge-shaped at its lower end within the housing, as shown at 21, and pro--v vided at its edge with a wedge-shaped lug 26 adapted, when depressed to dotted line positions, as shown at Figure 1, to separate the spring contacts I6 and I1, and the lug 26 to engage under one of such spring contacts, as I6, and lock the wedge between said contacts as a circuit-closing or bridge member.

A spring 29 is provided tending to move the member 26 upwardly to open the circuit. `A- cap 30 is provided upon the upper end of the member 26 so that the heel of the driver may be applied thereto for closing, such position being indicated `at I4 in Figure 6.

When the switch is to be opened, the ioot is applied to the cap 3B in the position' indicated at i Il in Figure 6, whereby the member 26 is angled to dotted line position, as shown Aat Figure 2,'

shown, the member 26 is formed with a passage 3| with a tumbler 32 passing therethrough and provided at its upper end with an opening 33 for a key.

The member 26, at a position within the housing Ill, is provided with a cut-out part 34 and a locking bolt 36 is inserted through the cut-out part 3l and fixed to the tumbler 32. 'Ihis may be in the form of a screw inserted'through the opening 36 of the housing, which opening provides an abutment l1 forming a stop for the bolt 35 when turned to the position shown at Figure 1. When, therefore, the tumbler I2 is turned to such position, the locking bolt I5` will engage the abutment I1 and prevent the' closing of the switch. j

As has been explained, the position of the de- Ivice relative tothe driver's seat is important. In

a great number of automotive vehicles, the battery 36 is locatedgin close proximity to the drivers seat.y The broken cable 36, however, indicates that the device lmay be located in any position relative to the battery. Itis desirable that it shall be as near to the battery as possible, even including, if the arrangement of parts will permit, the attaching directly to the battery post and eliminating the cable indicated as 3S. This, however, will depend entirely upon the location of the battery as the location oi' the switch itself is believed to be fairly wellflxed.

In operation, when the switch is to be closed so that the vehicle may be operated, the foot is applied to the cap Il in the position indicated at Il in IFigure 6, which will depress the switch member 26 to the dotted line position shownat Figure 1, ilexing the resilient contact members I6 and I1 to form a wipe contact, and engaging the lug 26 under the contact I6 in the position indicated as 26' in Figure l. This will lock the switch member 26 in closed position, and maintain such closed position until released. To open the switch, the foot is applied as indicated at Il in Figure 6, which will angle the switch member 26, as shown at Figure 2, whereby the lug 2l will vbe moved to the position indicated as 2l" in said ilgure, being then beyond the lateral margin of the contact I6, and by reason of the tension of the spring 29, the switch will be opened, the lock bolt 35 serving as a stop to limit the movement. When operated by the application of a key to the tumbler 32, the lock boit 35 may be moved from the full line position shown at Figure 3 to the dotted line position shown in that ilgure, and the i'ull line position shown at Figure 1, whereupon the abutment 31 will prevent the depression oi' the switch member 26.

Ot course, the electric switch illustrated may be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the invention herein set forth and lhereinafter claimed.

1. A switch comprising spaced resilient contact members and a circuit closer insertable by a rectilinear movement between the contact members and having means i'or making locking engagement with one of said contact members, said circuit closing member being movable into a position angular with respect to its path of movement to release the locking member from locking engagement with the contact.

2. A switch comprising spaced convergingly arranged resilientcontact members and a wedgeshaped circuit-closing member slidable between the contact members to augment the separation of the contact members, said wedge member being provided with a projection for making a positive locking engagement with one oi! said contact members, said wedge-shaped member being movable into a position angular with respect to to its path of sliding movement to disengage the projection from the contact member with which it is locked.

3. A switch comprising spaced contacts convergingly arranged, a circuit-closing member having` a wedge-shaped extremity insertable between the converging contact members to augment the separation of said contacts and to provide wiping engagement between the contacts and the wedge member, and a lug formed upon said wedge member adapted to engage under the edge of one of said contacts', said closer member being mounted for tilting movement whereby the lug may be disengaged from the contact upon tilting of the closer member.

4. A switch comprising spaced contacts, a closer member movable. between the contacts to close the circuit, a spring tending to move the closer to circuit open position, a cap carried on said closer, av lock carried by said closer adapted to lock the closer in open position, facilities at the cap for manually actuating the lock, and av lug on said closer engageable with one of the contacts, said closerfbeing tiltable to disengage the lug to permit movement of the closer to open Pition.

IRVIN BOBI'IAN. 

